Feast of Pentecost

 

FEAST OF PENTECOST [C]


Do you recognize the name of Charlie Brown? Of course you do. He’s everybody’s favorite “blockhead.” He’s the one who would have you believe that there is such a thing as “good” grief. How did it all begin for him? He was introduced to us through the newspapers. He has been showing up daily, ever since 1950, as the central figure of the Peanuts comic strip. But he has since evolved into another medium. By the time we reach 1960, Charlie Brown finds himself branching out, extending himself into the world of television. 


How and when does such a transition take place? It happens through a process called animation. As for when?, we’re focusing on the year 1959. Charles Schulz, as the creator of Peanuts, comes into contact with Bill Melendez, a former employee of Walt Disney. They are being called upon to collaborate on a television commercial, promoting the 1959 Ford Falcon.  They start off small; producing a thirty second commercial. Three more commercials are subsequently arranged. And then, the Schulz & Melendez team will take on something more ambitious: a Holiday Special. 


By now we have reached the year 1965. Coca-cola agrees to be the primary sponsor, commissioning the project. The CBS network climbs on-board, and before long we are being treated to something new: a special called The Charlie Brown Christmas. The ratings soar, creating a demand for additional holiday specials: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Easter, and Valentine’s Day. The Schulz/Melendez team has combined for a winning formula; each going on to win a Peabody Award and also an Emmy. 


Success and Charlie Brown typically do not go hand-in-hand. But we have to factor in the involvement of an animator: namely, Bill Melendez. He is being given access to a character who belongs to a particular format. Charlie Brown exists as a static figure, imposed on the newprint of your daily paper. That was the Charles Schulz vision—or at least it was his vision for the year 1950. Now the door is being opened for Melendez. Perhaps Charlie Brown can be allowed to exist in a new and different way. We’ll set him into motion. And we’ll give him an actual voice. 


What does this have to do with Pentecost? Think of it this way: What Bill Melendez does on a small scale, the Holy Spirit does—on a more expansive scale. Melendez applies himself according to his trade, he fulfills his role. And as a result, we see one manner of existence transformed into another manner of existence. The newsprint Charlie Brown gives way to the televised Charlie Brown. You could describe it as a new way of being alive. The Holy Spirit can do something similar for you. However, it all boils down to access. Bill Melendez was given access to the Charlie Brown character. Charles Schulz had to flash the green light. He had to provide explicit consent. Otherwise, Melendez would be in violation of copyright laws. 


Look at it from the Holy Spirit’s perspective. Is the light green? Is it yellow? Is it red? In other words, are we granting access to the Holy Spirit? Hopefully yes. We want the Spirit to fulfill its role. We want to experience a bold new way of being alive. We appreciate being alive in the biological sense of the term. But clearly more is being offered. There’s “life” in the conventional sense. And then we hear our Lord talking about THE ABUNDANT LIFE (John 10:10). At Pentecost, a static church becomes animated, thanks to the Holy Spirit. Embrace your own personal Pentecost, by opening yourself up to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. 


If you don’t know how to open yourself up, track down a book of Catholic prayers. Make use of an old classic: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created; and you will renew the face of the earth. O God, you taught the hearts of your faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit. Grant that by the light of that same Spirit, we may be truly wise and always rejoice in the Spirit’s consolation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

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